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DISCOURSE 



ON THE 



ERRORS OF POPERY, 

DELIVERED IN THE 

Chapel of the university in Cambridge, 

MAY 3, i8o.j 5 

AT THE ANNIVERSARY LECTURE, 

FOUNDED BY THE 

Hon. $aul DtUrtep, Esq, 



BY THOMAS THACHER, A. JVL 



MINISTER OF A CHURCH IN DEDHAM. 



' 



■ i f 



CAMBRIDGE, 
PRINTED BY WILLIAM HILLIARIX 

1805. 



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<Jt*1 



>v 






DISCOURSE. 



<4>—<» ' •<> 



MARK, xiii. 22. 

FOR FALSE CHRISTS, AND FALSE PROPHETS SHALL ARISE, 
AND SHALL SHEW SIGNS AND WONDERS TO SEDUCE, 
IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, EVEN THE ELECT. 

Jb EW subjects more deeply interest the inquiring 
mind, than the origin, progress, and decline of the Roman 
Empire. Progressing from inconsiderable beginnings, it 
gradually rose to that height of power and greatness, 
that all the known and civilized earth was subjected to 
its command. Having for centuries ruled the nations 
with a rod of iron, it as gradually fell ; and in the end, 
stripped of its glory, and ravaged by the barbarians, it 
was blotted from the list of nations. 

The monuments of arms, arts, and sciences, of genius, 
learning, and taste, which still remain, sufficiently de- 
monstrate, how great was ancient Rome. They excite 
our curiosity concerning the causes of her grandeur and 
ruin ; they teach us, that it was not so much her for- 
tune, as her system, which produced her exaltation ; and 
in the issue, not physical necessity, but vice and luxury 
were the causes of her decay. 

But however paradoxical, that from means so inade- 
quate and disproporlioned to the end, so small a portion 
of mankind should rise to a preeminence so unusual and 
unprecedented, yet there is another subject capable of 
exciting still greater astonishment, and deserving more 
serious admiration ; i. e. that a new empire should arise 
from the ashes of the former, of a nature very diverse, 
but producing a more formidable tyranny, than the first. 
That it should, by the same gradual steps, advance tosu- 



preme dominion ; disarm and chain its ferocious conquer- 
or ; and finally, by the influence of a fascinating super- 
stition, cramp every energy of the human mind, and ex- 
tinguish every ray of genius, opposed to its design. 
But, however marvellous, or even incredible the fact 
may appear ; yet it is most evident. From the ruins 
of ancient Rome there has arisen a power, and a tyranny 
more dreadful, than the first. It has extended its con- 
quests to regions, where the Roman eagle never flew, 
and finally, to borrow the language of a celebrated wri- 
ter,* it has produced "a monster vast and tremendous, 
* c in a far more terrific guise, than ever before overpow- 
ered the imagination, or subdued the fortitude of 



"man" 



If it be possible in contemplating this subject, that a- 
ny circumstances can excite additional amazement, it is 
this ; that this terrible empire laid its foundation on the 
purest system of religion and morality, ever known, or 
uttered to mankind. Why the Deity should permit the 
Gospel," the Sun in the intellectual and moral universe, 
to be eclipsed for ages ; why he suffered that legacy of 
faith and mercy and salvation to be contaminated and 
defaced, and eventually converted into an empire of despo- 
tism more false, sanguinary, and destructive to his crea- 
tures, than any evil tyranny, than any superstition and 
idolatry before existing ; we may add than any earth- 
quake, famine, or pestilence, which convulsed the natur- 
al world, and peopled with human victims the regions 
of silence and of death ; these are questions, which do not 
admit of our solution. We must admire and adore that 
wisdom, which we cannot comprehend ; it is our part to 
remember, that the way of God is upon the great deep, his 
path, upon the mighty waters, and the secrets of his counsel, 
shrouded with impenetrable darkness. 

The subject however as far as it relates to mankind 
is interesting and important. It is necessary and useful 2 

* Burke on regicide peace, 



that we should discover the arts and falsehood, by which 
this empire of superstition was erected, that we should 
be warned against future delusion ; for, though within 
a few years we have seen the seat of this capital of reli- 
gious tyranny laid in the dust ; yet, since that late peri- 
od, it has risen like the phoenix from its ashes. Its fall- 
ing columns have been propped up and repaired, by the 
most brilliant and successful villain, that ever appeared 
in any age or country. If this ancient superstition can 
become an efficient instrument of hig attibition, the whole 
influence of his fortune will be employed in its support. 

The protestant churches, knowing from experience 
this formidable monster, have long since explored the 
arts, by which it rose, the imposition it has practiced, and 
the tendency of its doctrine and discipline, both to cor- 
rupt and enslave mankind. Suspecting that these de- 
lusions would be repeated, they have left many solemn 
testimonies to posterity, to guard them from the snare. 
Among other pious and benevolent cares of this kind, 
was the design of the honorable founder of this lecture, 
in providing for a periodical dissertation " on the errors 
and corruptions of the Romish Church. " As these can- 
not be even* enumerated in a single discourse, the gen- 
tlemen, who have preceded me, have endeavoured to con- 
fute some glaring falsehood, some disingenuous art, or 
some .flagrant corruption of the Papal church. Follow- 
ing their example, we shall at this time offer some re- 
marks on the power of working miracles, claimed by this 
church. In this age of light and information, it will not 
be expected, that we go over with a particular narration 
of their ridiculous legends ; w r e shall therefore content 
ourselves with some general evidence of the falsehood 
of their pretensions. 

A subject of this nature is pointed out by the lan- 
guage of the text. It contains a prophecy of the claims 
of the Roman church to a power, granted and exercised 
in the Christian lera by none, but Jesus Christ and 



se, especially commissioned and appointed by himself. 
We grant, the prophecy was partially fulfilled before or 
at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem ; but it must 
be admitted, that it has been more completely realized in 
the church of Rome, whose chief has claimed divine hon- 
ors and authority. Seating himself in the temple of God, 
he commands himself to be worshipped as God. Pretend- 
ing to support this impious claim, he has exhibited signs, 
wonders, and miracles, unfounded either in fact or rea- 
son ; but yet efficient to obscure the understanding, and 
beguile the senses of mankind. 

We shall pursue our proposed subject by offering in 
the first place, 

I. Some general remarks on the nature and design 
of miracles, 

II- The marks of truth and authenticity in those, re- 
corded in the sacred scripture. 

III. Contrast those with the miracles^ exhibited in 
the church of Rome, whence "we infer the decisive evi- 
dence of fraud in the latter. 

I. We are briefly to consider the nature and design 
of miracles- 

A miracle has been well defined M An event either con- 
" tradictorv to the usual course of causes and effects, or so 
" unusual and unlike what we have known either from 
" expedience, or well authenticated report, that we can- 
" not account for it on the laws and principles, by which 
" the world is governed/ 5 * Now we suppose, that these 
laws and principles originated from a Being infinitely 
wise and supremely powerful. We must consider them 
then, as the manner, in which he exhibits his administra- 
tion to finite beings. We must believe, that he never 
would vary from them, unless from some important and 

raordinary reasons, and in such instances, that those 

* The reader, who wishes to see the subject of miracles more minutely inves- 
tigated, and their credibility vindicated from the objection of Hume, will find his 
iity gratified by referring to Farmer on miracles, Campbell's dissertation, 
mid above all, Pistorius notes on Hartley, 



\vise and good regulations, adapted to the genera] ad- 
vantage, are never suspended or varied, unless by 
immediate or mediate operation of the Deity. Id the 
latter case permission is granted to finite beings to display 
such extraordinary manifestations of divine power as are 
proper and necessary to demonstrate this power, to intel- 
ligent creatures. We suppose however, that though 
miracles are different from, yet they never militate against 
the general plan, by which the Almighty governs the 
universe. But whether God acts by a private exhibition 
of his will in signs and wonders, or whether he acts by 
his usual dispensations, each part of his conduct harmo- 
nizes with everlasting wisdom and fitness* 

The generality of christians have divided miracles into 
two classes ; the first, such as are executed by the Al- 
mighty himself, or by ministers or agents acting by his 
direct command ; the second, those which are executed 
in the manner, that natural and moral evil is permitted 
by demons or evil angels, whose power and capacity ren- 
der them equal to the work. On this principle they 
account for many of the miracles, said to be wrought in 
the heathen world, and for several in the old and new 
testament, which seemed to be allowed by the Deity ; 
but yet are unconnected with, and in some sort opposed to 
those, wrought by himself. Such as those of the Egyp- 
tian magi in opposition to Moses ; some of the false 
prophets and sorcerers against which the people of Is- 
rael were cautioned ; the ghost of Samuel conjured from 
the invisible world by the witch of Endor. The prophecy 
in the text, and other passages of holy writ, which sean 
to indicate, that beings of a malignant kind have been at 
least permitted to exercise power, adds strength to the 
supposition. 

A late celebrated and ingenious writer has supposed 
that theory to be false, which ascribes miraculous power 
to any malignant beings, or in fact to any, except the Su- 
preme Being, and his immediate agents- He thinks, that 



8 

those parts of the scripture, which seem to support ikd 
opinion, ought not to be taken in a literal, but in a figur- 
ative sense ; and that when interpreted they will bear a 
very different meaning. The author has fortified his o- 
pinion with many arguments, drawn from the attributes 
of God, and from natural religion. It is foreign to our 
present purpose to attempt to determine the merits of 
either supposition. Enough it will be for us to observe, 
that every other relation of miracles, performed by ma- 
lignant beings, is wholly unsupported. With respect to 
those incidents recorded in the scriptures, if they are to 
be taken in a literal and not in a figurative sense, yet we 
must suppose, that these characters were permitted to ap- 
pear only for the sake of contrast and comparison, in or- 
der that the power of the Divinity might be the more 
splendidly elucidated. There were always marks and 
indications given, which the meanest understandings 
might not mistake. In a word, it never has appeared, 
that such miracles have been wrought, unless in an age, 
when miracles transcendent and undoubted were wrought 
by the finger of God. 

From the nature, let us next review the design of mir- 
acles. This seems evidently to be to keep up a corres- 
pondence between the Deity and his creatures, while 
the infantile state of the latter, in the very early ages of 
the world, rendered it necessary, to establish the doc- 
trine of the Divine Unity, and his pure worship, after 
the world had become corrupted by the polytheism of 
the Gentiles j* to give unquestionable evidence of di- 
vine mission and authority to those, appointed to dis- 
pense religion and morality to the world ; and lastly 
for the conviction of pofterity as well, as those, 
whose senses were addressed, the gift of prophecy was 
added. From these reasons for the existence of miracles 

* It is very evident, that the world was corrupted before, and at the aera of the 
patriarchs. This we may learn from some few incidents in the book of Genesis 
Of the father of Abraham and his cotemporaries (in the book of Joshua) it is said. 
that tbey served other gods. There are strong inferences from the lTook of Job, that, 
the practice of idolatry was then frequent in the world. 



Vte infer, that they never originated from a good being 
merely to gratify curiosity ; but that the support of re- 
ligious truth and moral virtue was the sole cause ; and 
that even for this they were not exhibited, unless where 
the ordinary laws of nature, and the common dispensa- 
tions of Providence were inadequate to that end. But 
this will be more fully illustrated by considering the 
scripture miracles, and their evident design to promote 
the last named purpose, 

II. We come now therefore to consider the marks 
of aiithenticitv and truth exhibited in the miracles, re- 
corded in the sacred scriptures. 

Though in their nature above every human exertion 
or contrivance, yet they were not eccentric or extrava- 
gant. There \^as a unity, a consistency of design. By 
their operation holy men were protected in executing the 
commands of God ; by those wonders the idolatry of the 
heathen was reproved, and by them the best system of 
piety and holiness ever known was founded equally on 
the evidence of sense and of reason. 

The miracles recorded in the scripture were generally 
performed in a very public and open manner, and wit- 
nessed and acknowledged even by those, who were in- 
terested both in treating them, as fraud, and in defeating 
their success. As a proof of the justice of the last re- 
mark, let u$ recur to those, exhibited by Moses in Egypt 
and in the wilderness at the head of his countrymen. In 
both instances we affirm^ that there could be no possibil- 
ity of falsehood or collusion. Admitting that Moses 
had obtained a blind confidence from the " stupid shep- 
herds," as the emperor Julian was pleased to call them ; 
admitting that he had gained such an ascendency over 
that people, as was necessary to invest him with supreme 
power ; still, would those delusions have succeeded with 
Pharaoh ? With the Egyptian court ? With a nation the 
most polished and enlightened of any then existing in the 
known world ; whose interest, whose pride, whose con- 
venience and hope w T ould all be interested in detecting 

B 



io 

those pretended miracles ? Suppose an itinerant teach- 
er, in the full glow of enthusiasm and philanthropy, were 
to travel to the West Indies, or to the southern states? 
and on his arrival were to proclaim from God liberty 
and citizenship to the Africans. Suppose he should at- 
tempt to justify his divine mission by slight of hand, or 
some dextrous juggling. That he might delude the 
slaves, I can very easily believe. They nattirally would 
hear with pleasure of a day of jubilee, and would neither 
be able nor v/illing to detect the fraud or falsehood. 
But that such an enthusiast or impostor should deceive 
their masters, who were interested in the continuance of 
the servitude and depression of the slaves, is totally in- 
credible. Were the effect of his pretensions so power- 
ful, as to oblige the masters to drive both the slaves and 
the prophet out of their country, there would be a proof 
amounting to a moral certainty, that the prophet was 
no impostor, and his' miracles were of divine original* 
Could then Pharaoh and the court of Egypt be persuad- 
ed by any magical delusion, that the water of the river 
Nile was converted into blood ? That frogs and vermin 
had multiplied beyond all former example ? That diseases 
had fallen upon man and upon beast ? That there was 
palpable darkness for three days ? That the whole nation 
of the Hebrews should be in health, and the whole of 
the first born of Egypt should expire in one sight ? That 
there should be a passage through the red sea, by which 
those fugitives passed safely, while a great part of the 
Egyptian army was overwhelmed in the deep ? No one 
can deny, that such a power of delusion would be equal 
to the power necessary to produce the same prodigies.* 

* The most public and best attested of any of the miracles of the church of 
Rome, within the knowledge of the author, are those, said to have been wrought 
at the tomb of the Abbe de Paris in 1725. Though they offer no conclusion more 
favorable to his claims, yet candor may require us to give a brief statement from 
a late writer. 

" The Abbe de Paris was a zealous Jansenist, and a warm opposer of the bull, 

" or constitution of pope Clement XI, called Unigenitus, by which all the doc- 

" trines of his sect were expressly condemned. He died and was buried in the 

urch of St. Medard, in Paris ; whither the great reputation of his sanctity 



II 

The observations, which we have made on the open 
and public manner, in which the miracles of Moses were 
wrought before Pharaoh in Egypt, may be pertinently 
applied to those, performed in the wilderness before all 
the nation of the Jews ; a multitude much greater, than 
all the people of this commonwealth collected. The 
same nation was supported for forty years by the super- 
natural bounties of the Deity ; and with prodigies, 
equally remarkable and open, they were introduced to 
the land of Canaan. 

We might ask similar questions respecting the mira- 
cles of the new, that we have already done respecting 
those of the old testament. When we hear of five thou- 
sand men fed with a few loaves and fishes, or of an illus- 
trious character publicly and openly performing super- 
natural deeds, such as healing the sick, calming the 
storms and tempests with his breath, passively suffering 
a violent death ; after displaying his resurrection from 
the dead, ascending into heaven, and leaving to his fol- 
lowers the same divine authority, which was as publicly 
exercised. Can we possibly suppose any fraud or collu- 
sion in this latter case would have deceived the piercing, 
penetrating suspicion and jealousy of the Jewish nation ? 

2. It may be remarked of the scripture miracles, that 
they were followed by such important consequences, as 
gives collateral evidence of truth almost as great and 
satisfactory to posterity, as to the age, in which they 
were displayed. We infer the truth of the Mosaic histo- 
ry from the existence of a people, sovereign and indepen- 
dent for several centuries ; from the excellence and sub- 
limity of their law itself ; from the prophecies delivered 

" drew many people to visit his tomb, and pay their devotion to him, as a saint ; 
? { and this concourse gradually increasing made him soon be considered, as a sub- 
" ject proper to revive the credit of the party, now utterly depressed by the 
w power of the Jesuits, supported by the authority, of the court. Within six years 
" after his death, the confident report of miracles, wrought at his tomb, began to 
" alarm not only the whole city of Paris, but the whole nation ; while infinite 
<c crowds were perpetually pressing to the place, and proclaiming the benefits rs- 
H ceived from the saint. Nor could all the power of the government give a check 
** to the rapidity of this superstition, till by enclosing the tomb within a waU, 
£ they effectually obstructed all access to it,'* 



12 

among them, foretelling events correctly fulfilled many 
nges after, in which were included the history of that 
people, and their fortunes to the present day. The same 
inference can be dra\vn from the preservation of their 
religious rites and customs to the present time, and their 
continuance, through almost every obstruction, a distinct 
and separate society. The author of this system died 
on the cross, confirming his own testimony. His confi- 
dential friends and associates proclaimed his system to 
the world, and many of them died by extreme torment 
rather, than retract their opinion. *For three hundred 
years the same sect maintained against every opposition 
their religious sentiments. They had nothing to hope, 
they had every thing to fear by their consistent obsti- 
nacy. Yet with these disadvantages, they made innu- 
merable proselytes. They organized churches and as- 
semblies under a government within themselves, *and in 
less" than four centuries became the established religion 
of the Roman empire. \ The influence and consideration, 
which they gained without either the aid of genius or 
learning,* certainly must be considered, as an evidence, 
that they were divinely protected. What could attract, 
in the period I have mentioned, such numbers to unite 
•with their despised' and persecuted society, when no 
returns of an earthly nature could be made for their sac- 
rifice, unless the testimony of a pure, convinced con- 
science, and the hope of a future reward by life and im- 
mortality ? In a word, upon a review of the scripture 
miracles, they never can be charged with having for their 
object any purpose of ambition or avarice. The simple, 
unadorned manner too, in which they were related, gives 
them additional credibility. Could they be proved false, 
yet it would be very difficult to charge any sinister or 
base view on the author of the falsehood. This fact 
too must be admitted even by the enemies of revealed 
truth ; that, of all prodigies, recorded in the whole histo- 
ry of man, they appear most moral in the design, most 
worthy the hand of the Supreme Governour of earth 
and heaven. 



*3 

III. We are now to contrast the miracles recorded 
in the sacred scripture with those, exhibited by the church 
of Rome ; whence we infer a decisive evidence of fraud 
in the latter. 

The far greater part of them were transacted in pri- 
vate ; they had neither the scrutiny of enemies, nor even 
the public assent of indifferent and properly qualified wit- 
nesses. No small proportion of these were the dreams 
of some eremite or recluse, whose gloomy imagination, 
deranged by the rigor of long and severe penance, raised 
iip wonderful and terrific spectacles. On his relation of 
his vision to some partizan as weak and credulous, as 
himself, it was received as a special revelation from heav- 
en to a highly favored saint. 

We might safely challenge the church of Rome to 
produce any one of her miracles, now offered in support 
of her claim, before any number of witnesses, * who ei- 
ther had light sufficient to detect, or influence or power 
sufficient to oppose the falsehood. Most of these win- 
ders rest upon the single testimony of some obscure, vis- 
ionary, and credulous individual, 

In cases, where their miracles have been supported by 
the testimony of numbers, yet it is very easy to trace 
out a conspiracy in favor of the delusion, and assign its 
motives. And where and when, from the earliest period 
of the usurpation of the Roman church to the time of 
the reformation, has there been an opportunity for in- 
vestigation and detection of her false miracles similar to 
that, which existed in respect to those of Moses and of 
Jesus Christ ? Where was the nation, government, or 
even association of individuals, with both will and pow- 

* Dr. Middleton, in his well known treatise, has very ahly shewn not only th« 
false and ridiculous pretences of the church of Rome to the power of working 
miracles, but the false account given of miracles by the fathers of the church for 
several centuries before the usurpation of the Roman Pontiff. Though his ac- 
count of the miracles of the id. century may be liable to a harsh construction and 
to unfavorable inference ; yet his narration of the miracles of the subsequent pe- 
riod exhibits a very fair display both of the weakness of the evidence, and the con- 
temptible character of those, who pretended to supernatural power, as well aa 
those, who aided them in their pious frauds, 



i4 

er to detect the artifice ? The friends of popery will 
plead, " that the different orders of their church were 
so much at variance, that they were both disposed and 
qualified for the duty." But admitting such disputes 
often existed, and certainly they did, yet no conclusion 
can be drawn, that there was a fair opportunity for dis- 
covery. If the order of St. Francis objected to the mir- 
acles of that of St. Dominic, or the Jesuits, to those exe- 
cuted by the disciples of Jansenius ; yet still all their 
disputes were under the control of an infallible head, 
who decided what should or should iiot be admitted and 
established. Whenever a power of examination, as at 
the time of the reformation existed, like the spear of Ithu- 
riel, it stripped falsehood of its mask. The den of Ca- 
cus was laid open ; their pretensions became the scorn 
of the multitude ; they vanished in a moment, as the 
spectres of the night at the dawning of the day. Should 
they further object, " that their miracles were received 
" and acknowledged in every part of the christian world 
" for a long period of time, and that this sanctifies the 
f* facts with a rational probability ;" who were those, 
who wrought the wonders ? Who were they, who be- 
lieved them I The first, unworthy of belief ; the last, 
incapable of judging. What marvellous accounts have 
been given of prodigies among enthusiasts of every de- 
scription ? We might mention those in the time of Charles 
I ; those among the French prophets in the time of 
queen Anne ; or, to speak of facts in our own country, 
the history of the witchcraft at Salem is supported by 
more authentic evidence, than any one miracle wrought 
in the church of Rome. Had there been opposed to 
each of their delusions one enlightened mind, like Ca- 
lef, in a situation to detect, the charm would have van- 
ished ; the dark repository of superstition, unveiled ; and 
the chains of the human mind happily rent asunder.* 

* Iceland, in his view of deistical writers, has very ably and sufficiently shewn, 
th it all these pretended wonders (for many it s< re related, and a multi- 

aid to be cured by the Virti om the tomb,) may be 



*5 

The miracles of the church of Rome are extravaga 
and romantic ; they are repugnant to every idea of de- 
corum, without cause or motive worthy the interposition 
of the Supreme Being. What motive, worthy of divine 
wisdom, could there be in protecting the body of Poly- 
carp from the fire ? What purpose, worthy Divinity, in 
enabling a Monk to fast forty days in each year ; or to 
stand on a column of immense height, exposed to the fu- 
ry of the elements for many years ; or to perform such 
acts of abstinence, as are beyond the ability of a mortal ?. 
What worthy purpose in summoning an audience of 
fishes to hear the sermon of St. Anthony ? " In enabling 
** St. Patrick to heat an oven with snow ? Or in ena- 
" bling St. Dominic to force the devil in the shape of a 
" monkey to hold his candle till Satan bellowed with the 
cc pain, and his fingers were burnt to the bone ? Or in 
u liquifying the blood of Januarius, at the anniversary 
cc of his martyrdom ? In a word, giving a divine heal- 
cc ing virtue to the bones of men, whose whole lives nev- 
u er witnessed any more, than the common protections 
" of divine providence." Admit, I say, that those and 
other legendary tales were true ; yet, so far from giving 
a rational idea of God, they gave an idea of him, as 
a being, acting capriciously and absurdly, and in many 
cases immorally communicating the special and unu- 
sual manifestations of his power. 

3. The evidence of their miracles is lessened by the 
plain indications of avarice and ambition, in almost every 
instance of supernatural power, which they claim. Did 
a holy hermit see a vision, or a deranged fanatic dream 

accounted for on natural causes, and very pertinently asks, whether, if God had 
designed to sanctify the place, and render it a theatre for the display of his divine 
power, he could be prevented by regal authority ? He adds, <c this was not the 
case with the miracles of the gospel ; nor was the force of the Jews and Pontine 
Pilate sufficient to obstruct eh* resurrection of Christ, though the thing was evi- 
dently attempted.' 1 In this in^.nce, we find a farther confirmation of the remark, 
we have made in this discourse ; " that no Popish miracles ever endured the 
ordeal of a public enquiry, where they had enemies competent either to examine, 
or oppose them." 

They have been also very acutely analyzed and exposed by Campbell's disser- 
tation on miracle* 



is 

a dream ; did he fall into a trance and receive some in- 
spired communication ; was he caught up to heaven by 
kn angel, or suspended on Jacob's ladder -between heav- 
en and earth ; some monastery was to be founded ; neW 
services were to be performed ; new attendants and new 
revenues to be appointed for their support. Were dis- 
eases and wounds healed by the energetic remedy of the 
martyr relicks ; shrines and temples were erected to 
his memory ; and pilgrimages ordered to his tomb. The 
treasury of the churcli, a gulf absorbing in those ages 
the wealth of the habitable world, was augmented by 
delusive hopes ; the sick, following them to the very 
arms of death, by the ardent piety of the saint, wish- 
ing to honour the merndry of the past ; by the liberal of- 
fering rif the sinner, content and happy to expiate his 
crime without the labor of penitence or reformation. 

That we may shew still more forcibly, how totally des- 
titute of credibility are the signs and wonders of the 
Romish church, let us state a case parallel and obvious* 
Let us suppose Jesus Christ, born in the humble condi- 
tion, in which he actually was ; that in the same corrupt, 
but enlightened age, he had uttered the same sublime 
doctrine ; that by him the Divine Unity had been 
proclaimed to the heathen nations ; that by his own ex- 
ample he had exhibited ardent piety and holiness, with- 
out spot or suspicion ; that his pretensions had been con- 
firmed by the same miracles, which he actually perform- 
ed ; but that in the end, instead of retiring from, he had 
sought with cupidity the honors of the world ; instead 
of commanding Peter to put up his sword into its sheath, 
he had directed him to draw it in his defence and for 
his ambition ; instead of dying on the cross, he had cru- 
cified Pontius Pilate ; the high priest Caiaphas ; and by 
his supernatural power dethroned Tiberius, and become 
lord of the Roman empire ; and, after he had lived in the 
highest grade of splendor and prosperity, have left, like 
Alexander, the civilized earth to be parted among the 
poor fishermen, who were the companions of his enter- 



prise. Suppose even farther, that after his death there 
had been equal proof of his rising from the dead, and 
finally, that he had been apotheothized by the Roman 
senate, and his statue seated in the capitol in the chair of 
Jupiter. I ask this learned audience, whether such a 
supposition would not give so just and reasonable a sus- 
picion of his motives, as to impair the credit of his sys- 
tem, because ambition and human applause crowned the 
last act of the drama. 

Yet under these circumstances the gospel, and the su- 
pernatural evidence attending it, would be far more \vor- 
thy belief, than those of the church of Rome. Might 
it not be pleaded in favor of Jesus Christ, that in assum- 
ing supreme dominion he had fulfilled the prophetic 
strains of David and Isaiah, who in sacred song had 
predicted the grandeur of his destiny ? That, the ambition, 
he displayed, was rather a divine philanthropy, than a 
crime ? That, by ridding the earth of a cruel, polluted 
monster, he made way for the highest degree of moral 
excellence, to be dignified with supreme power? That, as 
the extent of his goodness was superior to every other 
patron and benefactor of mankind, so the most exalted 
condition, and the noblest spot on the globe was the 
proper theatre, on which his splendid virtue should be 
displayed ? Might it not be farther argued, that the 
greater the transition of his fortunes, the more the fin- 
ger of God was witnessed in his promotion ? In addition 
to all these, it might also still be reasoned, a priori, from 
the morality of the gospel, containing truths never be- 
fore investigated, that it was communicated by a direct 
inspiration of Heaven, and its author was truly the son 
of God. Since it was impossible, that a system of eth- 
ics so superior to what had ever proceeded from the 
sublime genius of Plato, or from the dignified virtue or 
the philosophical Aurelius, could arise from an unlettered 
Jew, born in an obscure part of an obscure country, 
If under these advantages the gospel would still be liable 
to suspicion, because its author had exhibited a wc 

c 



i8 

iy motive, what can we say of the church of Rome, act- 
ing for ages with such mercenary motives, such abom- 
inable falsehoods and delusions, without even pretending 
to have for its object the promotion of piety to the Su- 
preme Being, peace oil earth, or good will to men ? 

4. The miracles of the church of Rome are in 
their nature not cnly contrary to the wisdom of God 
to permit, and the reason of man to believe ; but they 
are directly against the evidence of the senses. Other 
impostors and deluders are content with beguiling men 
by cunning slight of hand, or magical deception. But 
the church of Rome displays greater intrepedity. The 
doctrine of transubstantiation is made an article of their 
faith, and exhibits a standing miracle. In order to es- 
tablish this absurd doctrine, they have prosecuted with 
lire and sword ; they have led to the stake men of the 
best erudition, and of spotless morality ; they have tor- 
tured their bodies with protracted pain, hi order to o- 
blige them to acknowledge, that they believed against 
sense and reason. They have inflated the minds of the 
commonalty with such ferocious zeal and malignity, 
that they have been upon such occasions more, than the 
passive instrument of their atrocity. We do not wish 
to call up against this church a spirit of persecution. 
God forbid, that we should deny them that toleration, 
w 7 hich ought to be extended to every description of men 
in society, who violate no civil or municipal law." . We 
reprobate, in this age of light and knowledge, the imita- 
tion of the precedents, they have given in darker ages. 
To speak however of their excesses, and of their disinge- 
nuous arts, is a duty more necessary, than we imagine. 
For, while they studiously hide their absurdity and cruel- 
ty, they address themselves to the thoughtless and the 
ignorant, by a fascinating eloquence. They recommend 
a religion with all the brilliant decorations calculated to 
allure the senses ; and, by offering an easy pardon to the 
sinner, they engage the heart at the expence of the un- 
derstanding. We readily and cheerfully pay that tribute 



19 

of respect, due to science, literature, and many amiable 
qualities of the heart, which we find among many indi- 
viduals within the pale of their church. That such men, 
as Bacon the elder, father Paul of Venice, the archbish- 
op of Cambray, Massillon, and others more, than can be 
enumerated, have immortalized themselves by- the excel- 
lence of their genius and their private virtues, is readily 
admitted. Still however, had they closely adhered to 
the spirit of the principles and institutions of their church, 
they had been as gloomy bigots, as merciless persecu- 
tors, as Gardner, Bonner, or queen Mary, We also in 
charity believe, that, among the lowest grades of society 
in their communion, there are many sincerely honest, 
and, according to their knowledge, pious. Amidst so 
much ignorance, there is unquestionably some devotion ; 
and we entertain not a shadow of doubt, that the erro- 
neous worship, springing from a pure heart, will be ac- 
cepted by a Being infinitely wise and good, though con- 
veyed through the medium of superstition and idolatry. 
But still we admit no inference in favor of idolatry and 
persecution. If some few in a time of raging pestilence 
are preserved from the infection by the vigor of their 
constitution and their careful regimen, still it is no com- 
mendation of the atmosphere, they breathed, nor of the 
city, where they were forced to reside. Is there then 
any impropriety, any indecorum, or breach of christian 
charity in warning mankind against the absurd and im- 
pious claims of the church of Rome ?, Though the pro- 
gress of truth, light., and reformation has unnerved and 
palsied her arm ; yet she has never disavowed, but still 
retains her doctrines, and makes them a necessary article 
of her faith. 

prom what has been already observed, it appears, that 
no weapon she has wielded has been more formidable to 
primitive Christianity, more efficient in erecting her fabric 
of religious tyranny, than the power of working mira- 
cles. This has extended her authority even to the re- 
gions of death, and to the world of disembodied spirits. 



20 

To the infallible successor of St. Peter, the key of heav- 
en is committed. The purifying, expiatory punishment 
of the wicked, in the life to come, is measured in its du- 
ration by his sovereign pleasure. " Castigat auditque 
" dolos." The iron gates of Tartarus object no limit to 
his dominion. To the one of its dreary attendants he 
saith, Go, and he goeth ; and to another, come, and he co?n- 
eth. By his nod the devoted victim is snatched from 
the black ministers of vengeance, and transported to the 
regions of eternal day. By him, a favored mortal, rises 
to Divinity, is honored and worshipped with religious 
solemnities, made a partner in supreme power, and ad- 
mitted to the table of the Gods. ' 

But time, and probably the patience of my hearers in- 
timate, that we should close the discourse with a few in- 
ferences and reflections, deduced from our subject. 

i st. From the uncertainty, attending the evidence 
addressed to our senses, and our liability to imposition 
by the delusive arts of wicked and interested men we 
infer, that a standing revelation is the best mean for 
conviction ; and that such proofs, as are deduced from 
natural religion, reason, and the best historical evidence 
in favor of the scripture, are better adapted to the present 
genius, temper, and moral interest of mankind, than if 
the same holy and divine system was confirmed daily by 
some new prodigy from heaven. There is a wish no 
doubt in the pious as well, as in the curious mind, to 
witness by the senses some Shehinah or visible manifes- 
tation of the divine presence. "Contemplating this impi- 
ety, profligacy, and unbelief, the serious, devout chris- 
tian earnestly and anxiously wishes, that the Almighty 
would address language to his creatures more impressive 
and efficient, than he now does in the modes, which his 
wisdom has adopted. But a more close examination of 
the subject will convince them, that the remedy probably 
would be far worse, than the disease. We have already- 
seen from our review of the papal church, in which the 
belief of miracles has among their deluded followers 



21 

been firmly established, that from that very circumstance 
religion has been defaced ; corruption and moral profli- 
gacy have augmented; the distinctions between good and 
evil have been obliterated from the mind ; and the am- 
bition and avarice of the vilest men have found this be- 
lief a forcible instrument in effecting their designs. It 
will I conceive be admitted as a truth, that mankind 
were never more ferocious, immoral, more confused and 
unhappy, than in those periods, in which the papal su- 
perstition was completely triumphant. From which 
fact we have a clear demonstration, that the voice of the 
Deity addressing mortal beings, though loud as the 
thunder of his power, uttered to the Jews at the foot of 
Sinai, might be as easily counterfeited and perverted, as 
the usual and ordinary medium, through which he com- 
municates divine instruction to mankind. Should it how- 
ever be objected, " that the miracles described, were 
?' false and delusive ; that probably many of the more 
cc wise and rational of men, though they were silent, yet 
f c were not satisfied by them ; that the Deity would nev- 
f* er suffer the illumination of his spirit, or the energy 
" of his grace to accompany or assist such frauds, even 
f- c those of them, that might be more harmless, and ut- 
" tered with a good intention. But should he exhibit 
f the same wonderful operations, which were performed 
V- in establishing the scripture, the effect would be univer- 
" sal in reclaiming the vicious, converting the heathen 
" and mahometan, and in convincing the sceptic." In 
reply we observe, that, as the evidence addressed 
daily to the senses of men in respect to their moral con- 
duct is liable to no kind of exception or of fraud, we can 
easily determine how they would conduct, were the 
same evidence multiplied in other instances. What clear- 
er proofs can be given to man, than those arising from 
the administration of Providence in favor of moral vir- 
tue, and in opposition to vies ? Those we well know are 
directed to the sense as well, as to the reason of mankind, 
Who is there so ignorant, as not to discern, that tern- 



%% 

perance, chastity, frugality, a pure heart, and benevolent 
affections, contribute to health, to delightful sensa- 
tions, to long life, reputation, and happiness ? Could 
the Almighty promulgate any law more clearly, than 
that plain principle just named, which he has engraved 
on the human heart in indelible characters ? But yet, 
has it the effect, we should imagine ? Common sense an- 
swers the question. Do we not see daily victims of in- 
temperence ? Of lewdness ? Of prodigality ? Of malig- 
nity and fraud ? Do not their appearance indicate, that 
they carry with them a hell, while they exist ? But yet 
the experiment, demonstrated a thousand times, produces 
in them neither a reform of the habit, nor in others, a-' 
voidance of their example. 

Should we admit," that frequent communication with 
cc the world of spirits, and a succession of miracles could 
" have an irresistible influence in perfecting the moral 
€ - and religious character of mankind ;" still we reply to 
the argument, that the Almighty, in the constitution of 
the natural and moral world,' has created and treated 
man as a free moral agent ; and according to this consti- 
tution it is necessary, that both virtue and vice should 
be the result of his free and unbiassed choice. Were 
there therefore an intercourse between the dead and the 
living so frequent and so clear of all fraud and imposi- 
tion, that a future state, and every attendant circumstance 
could be made as plain to man, as the objects' of sight 
and sense, with which he is familiarized ; were there su- 
pernatural operations wrought everyday, so that it was 
impossible he could be deceived, man would no longer be 
a free or accountable being. He would be bribed to vir- 
tue by the delights of heaven, and frightened from vice 
by so near a view of the torments of the damned. 

2d. The destructive and terrible consequences of su- 
perstition and false worship are very naturally inferred 
from the perversion of the best and purest religion, ever 
known to human kind. We find by those abominable 
delusions practiced by tire church of Rome, that the very 



* 3 

truth of God has been changed into a lie ; the civil and re- 
ligious rights of men have been for centuries destroyed 
by her power, and, if these evils were too small, she hath 
waged war with arts and sciences ; with the noblest mon- 
uments of genius and learning ; in a word, with every de= 
gree of refinement, light, and human happiness, which 
thwarted her progress. Can we possibly suppose, that 
for the whole period of the middle ages, containing a 
space of nearly a thousand years, there was less ge- 
nius or capacity for knowledge, for useful arts, than in 
the preceding and subsequent periods ? Yet in the for- 
mer we find everlasting memorials of genius and learn- 
ing in the immortal labors of Greece and Rome ; in the 
latter mankind have progressed farther in every kind of 
useful knowledge, than in the most brilliant sera of an- 
tiquity. To the last evil may be added the rivers of hu- 
man blood, which have flowed ; the tortures and ago- 
pies, suffered by the best and most excellent of men ; the 
Cimmerian darkness, which overspread the world, qual- 
ifying it for the iron age and extreme calamities, which 
this pest has introduced. . 

3d. What gratitude is due to the. Almighty Parent 
of light and truth for the reformation and its conse- 
quent blessings ? For the peculiar felicity of the age, in 
which we live ? What mortal honors are enough fox- 
Luther, Melanchton, for the noble army of martyrs and 
confessors, who dissolved the charm, which these infer- 
nal ministers of superstition had spread over mankind ? 
Unappalled by death or danger, inspired by heaven 
with the purest piety, with a love of truth stronger thar\ 
deaths with divine philanthropy they combatted, and 
smote with a deadly wound this terrible, this execrable mon- 
ster; andrent asunder the veilof this temple of superstition* 
If the founders of cities, the inventers of useful arts, and 
the destroyers of civil tyranny have a claim to the ever- 
lasting gratitude of posterity, much more have they, who 
have broken the religious as well, as civil chains of man- 
kind j who have become the day star, ushering in the 



H 

glorious morning of science as well, as the pure and 
bright rays of the sun of righteousness , long obscured by 
the clouds of ignorance and bigotry. Can we express 
too great thanks for the religious, moral, and literary 
advantages of the age, in which we live ? An age, of 
which without hyperbole, we may use the language of 
the immortal historian, " Rura temporum felicitate, ubi 
" sentire qu^ velis, et quae sentias dicere licet ;" an age, 
in which the best and noblest present, the blessed gos- 
pel, is published and declared to mankind in its primitive 
purity, and worthy its celestial origin ; an age, in which 
every science, which embellishes, and every art augment- 
ing the happiness of man is daily progressing. Even of 
Milton,- Locke, a:nd Newton illustrious names, death- 
less in the annals of learning and philosophy, it may be 
said, that they desired to see the days^ which we behold^ 
and saw them not. 

4th. From the review already taken of the falsehood 
and cruelty of the papal church w^e should receive a so- 
lemn caution against every kind of extravagant enthusi- 
asm as well, as every innovation and delusion, offered 
under the pretext of religion. There may be many, 
who, though their theoretical sentiments are diametrical- 
ly opposite to popery, yet are possessed of the same prin- 
ciple and spirit. When men are ready to call for the 
vengeance of the civil arm against heresy ; when they 
are ready to denounce the best and worthiest characters 
as incapable of public trust, because, upon humble in- 
quiry into the scriptures, they differ in religious appre- 
hension from themselves ; when they hold them up as 
objects of public execration ; such men may, whatever be 
their zeal for religion, 4» whatever they may pretend for 
the advancement of the kingdom of Christ, be pertinent- 
ly rebuked in the language of him, who was mildness 
itself ; ye know not what spirit ye are of Thank God, 
in this age of light and information, I cannot name such 
characters ; but were there any to appear of any denom- 
ination, even were they of my own favorite theological 



\ 



2 5 

'opinions ; were they to attempt to crowd their own dog* 
mas and doctrines, or those of the most admired class of 
theological writers, as articles of faith, or as a supple- 
ment to divinely inspired wisdom in the scripture, I should 
feel it a solemn and holy duty to protest against such 
Usurpation. I should make no scruple to address my 
fellow men with regard to each of them in the language 
of the Roman poet ; 

" Hie niger est ; hunc tu Rdmane caveto." 

"Wherever, saith the great Dr. Foster, mystery be- 
" gins, there religion ends." Wherever the opinion of 
fallible, and' perhaps interested men is received, as of 
equal authority with the scripture, the supporters of such 
impiety deserve severe censure. They may shed croco- 
dile tears ; they may heave deep sighs from a hollow 
heart, under the pretence of the decay of religion, and 
with the view of fortifying it with human penalties ; but 
still their secret motive, undoubtedly however with some 
exceptions, is ambition and avarice. Trust them not ; 
for in each tear they shed, in each sigh they utter, there 
is more concealed venom, than in any serpent of Africa- 
The young gentlemen, residing in this school of the 
prophets, the venerable and splendid monument of the 
sagacious liberality as well, as the ardent piety of our 
forefathers, will be reminded, from what has been said, 
of the literary and religious advantages, they enjoy ; and 
will cultivate each to such advantage, as will shew their 
grateful sensibility to the author of every good and perfect 
gift. Contemplate, my young friends, your happiness 
in such an age of light and knowledge, of civil and re- 
ligious liberty, when the mind, unshackled by narrow, 
bigoted systems, is at liberty to range the fertile field of 
science, wherever genius or inclination may direct. While 
the monster persecution has received a fatal wound, of 
which we hope it will never recover, the true and prim- 
itive religion of the gospel has been so ably defended by 
a display of its external and internal evidence, as to claim 
the attention, and demand the assent of every candid, 

D 



/ 



ranonal mind. We hope you will never be corrupted 
by the arts or seductions of the infidel j nor yet infla 3 
tmh pestilential enthusiasm, dishonorable o^u e wor 
ahjp, abhorrent to reason, and pernicious to soX 
mile, from the character of your instructors, S 
firm belief in the gospel, unblemished reputat on? and 
saenufic knowledge, we**g«e the best hopes, that you 
wi 1 1 be exposed to neither of these extremes" We rejoS 
» the increase of erudition and science through the wor d 

S to? ^ Pr ° POrtl0 T n " greatCr D ° ^refthan in tit 
seat of the muses. Let me entreat you to cultivate the 
advantages you enjoy, and unite with a polished under- 
standing, the most correct moral discipline. In a word 
a you are now the hope, may you be hereafter the safe- 
guard and ornament of your country •■---- 

tn^ ?■ ^ lmi S ht J.P^ en t of light and truth prosper 
the efforts of every friend to our holy religion,' in devel- 
oping the arts and unnerving the arm not alone of the 

il^V ' bU ^ f C l ery ° ther kind ° f corru P tio « and su! 
postmen. May his eyer watchful providence so direct- 
every event in the natural and moral world, that mankind 
may be prepared and qualified for the kingdom of the 
redeemer ; that the whole earth may bea temple conse- 
crated to the Supreme Being ; in which all nations shall 
worship him according to the unity and purity of his na- 
ture ; that theJDeriod may approach, when, in respect to 
the progress of truth, virtue, and happiness, the noble 
though figurative language of the prophet shall be veri-' 
fied the l.ght of the moon shall be as the light of 
the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold," 



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